Carrier and package formed thereby

ABSTRACT

The embodiment of the invention disclosed herein is directed to a carrier package comprising a plurality of containers and a sheet of plastic material having at least a pair of oppositely arranged elongated sockets formed therein. The sheet plastic material is rectangular in configuration and has a major dimension and a minor dimension which are approximately one half the major dimension. The sockets formed therein are each formed by spaced apart circular portions joined together by straight line portions. Preferably the marginal portion of the sockets form parallel lines with the marginal portion of the rectangular sheet while angular lines are formed by the sockets at the anterior portion of the sheet. The sockets are formed by semicircular portions of different diameters, preferably the larger diameter being positioned at the corner portions of the rectangular sheet. A handle is formed at the intersection of the longitudinal and transverse central axes of the sheet.

United States Patent [1 1 Klygis Aug. 20, 1974 CARRIER AND PACKAGEFORMED THEREBY [75] Inventor: Mindaugas Julius Klygis, Evergreen Park,Ill.

[73] Assignee: Illinois Tool Works, Inc., Chicago,

Ill.

[22] Filed: Nov. 13, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 305,729

[52] US. Cl. 206/150, 206/428 [51] Int. Cl B65d 75/00 [58] Field ofSearch 206/65 R, 65 C, 65 E; 294/87 R, 87.2

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,874,835 2/1959 Poupitch206/65 C 3,044,230 7/1962 Fisher 294/87.2 3,269,530 8/1966 Wanderer206/65 C 3,385,626 5/1968 Wozniak 294/87.2 3,733,100 5/1973 Tanzer206/65 C X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,515,838 1/1968 France206/65 E 556,864 8/l957 Belgium 206/65 C Primary ExaminerWilliam I.Price Assistant Examiner-Steven E. Lipman Attorney, Agent, orFirm-Olson, Trexler, Wolters, Bushnell & Fosse, Ltd.

[57] ABSTRACT The embodiment of the invention disclosed herein isdirected to a carrier package comprising a plurality of containers and asheet of plastic material having at least a pair of oppositely arrangedelongated sockets formed therein. The sheet plastic material isrectangular in configuration and has a major dimension and a minordimension which are approximately one half the major dimension. Thesockets formed therein are each formed by spaced apart circular portionsjoined together by straight line portions. Preferably the marginalportion of the sockets form parallel lines with the marginal portion ofthe rectangular sheet while angular lines are formed by the sockets atthe anterior portion of the sheet. The sockets are formed bysemicircular portions of different diameters, preferably the largerdiameter being positioned at the corner portions of the rectangularsheet. A handle is formed at the intersection of the longitudinal andtransverse central axes of the sheet.

2 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures Z0 24 w, r 1 24 ENTEU M1 2 01974 CARRIER ANDPACKAGE FORMED THEREBY BACKGROUND or THE INVENTION This inventionrelates to a package or article carrier, and more particularly, to areceptacle for holding and carrying containers used for motor oil andthe like, and the resulting package formed thereby.

Various packaging techniques have been employed in the past to securelarge containers, such as quart cans of motor oil. Generally 24 1 quartcans are placed in a cardboard carton for bulk transport from place toplace. However, when transporting smaller quantities of quart cans it isnecessary to pick up each can individually from the carton. In thealternative single containers carrying or quarts are provided so that aspecific quantity of motor oil is easily handled for pouring into motorvehicles. Many modern motor vehicles generally require 4 quarts of motoroil per oil change. Therefore, the 5 to 10 quart size cans areinconvenient in that it is difficult to determine when the exactquantity, 4 quarts, of motor oil is poured therefrom into the enginecrankcase.

Also, when pouring motor oil from the large ten quart containers, it isdifficult to handle when initially full, and to minimize spillage andwaste it may be necessary to transfer the oil from the large containerto a smaller container for pouring into a motor vehicle engine.Therefore, the advantage of minimizing packaging cost by providing largecontainers of motor oil is circumvented by the increased difficulty inpouring the oil from the large container into the engine.

It is therefore most desirable, from a convenience standpoint, to ship,store, and pour motor oil in 1 quart containers. Also since many enginesrequire 4 quarts of oil per oil change it is convenient to package theoil in 4 quart units. This can be done either by disposable papercarriers or by a plastic carrier. However, when forming plastic packagecarriers of the type having sockets struck out from a sheet of plasticmaterial there I is substantial waste as a result of the large circularportions being removed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of this inventionto provide an improved carrier package structure wherein relativelylarge sockets are formed in a sheet of plastic material and such socketsare formed in a configuration to minimize waste.

Another object of this invention is to provide a package carrier havingfour sockets formed therein for carrying four container units of 1 quartsize so that 1 gallon quantities can be transported easily.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a package carrierformed of a sheet of plastic material with struck out portions and witha convenient centrally located handle for toting the package.

Many other objects, features, and advantages of this invention will bemore fully realized and understood from the following detaileddescription when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawingswherein like reference numerals throughout the various views of thedrawings are intended to designate similar elements or components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showingthe carrier package of this invention containing four containers such as1 quart motor oil cans or the like; and

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing in full one such carrier and infragmentary portions two contiguously formed carriers, such carriersbeing formed on a continuous strip and parted for individual use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG.1 there is seen a carrier unit constructed in accordance with theprinciples of this invention and designated generally by referencenumeral 10. The carrier unit 10 includes four sockets for holding 4 1quart can containers 12 in a side by side position as illustrated. Theupper portion of the cans 12 are provided with enlarged lip portions 14which fit over the encircling portions 16 of the carrier 10 andcooperate therewith for firmly holding the cans until physicallyextracted from the carrier unit. To facilitate carrying 'of four cans ahandle 18 is positioned at the intersection of the longitudinal andtransverse axes to be centrally positioned of the four containers. Thisthen provides sufficient hand room for comfortably carrying the heavyweight afforded by 4 1 quart containers.

Referring now to FIG. 2 the carrier 10 is formed of a blank 20 which issevered from a continuous strip 22 of such blanks which can be formed ina continuous process, such as by stamping the blanks from a continuousroll of elastic and deformable sheet plastic material. The blank 20 isthen separated from the continuous strip 22 as indicated at 24 atopposite ends thereof.

Most advantageously each of the blanks 20 is rectangular inconfiguration with a major dimension approximately twice that of theminor dimension as shown in FIG. 2. The handle 18 is formed by a pair ofspaced apart slots 26 and 28 so that the handle intersects the centralaxes of the major and minor dimensions. This then allows the positioningof the handle 18 to be in the middle of the four containers for uniformweight distribution. The slots 26 and 28 are provided with V-shaped sideportions 26a and 28a respectively, to allow for freedom of insertion ofthe fingers and hands more uniformly to grip the handle.

To minimize scrap of the blank 20 when the carrier 10 is formed, aplurality of elongated sockets 30 are formed and arranged as shown inFIG. 2. The peripheral measurement of the sockets 30 is less than thecorrespondingperipheral measurement of the containers for receiving thesame, and the stretchable characteristic of the carrier '10 causes theperipheral portion to take an axial configuration, as seen in FIG. 1,tightly to circumscribe the container and hold the same in the package.To provide a more uniform embracing of the 1 quart containers theconfiguration of the elongated sockets 30 is such that a pair of spacedapart circular portions 32 and 34 are joined together by straight lineportions 36 and 38 as shown. Preferably the circular portion 34 is of alesser radius than the circular portion 32 of each of the elongatedsockets thus providing ample material space in the center of the blank20 for striking out the handle forming slots 26 and 28. Score lines 40and 42 are formed along the major and minor axes to facilitate bendingof the plastic material around the upper portion of the 1 quart cans.

Accordingly, by forming a carrier structure as illustrated herein forcarrying heavy 1 quart containers substantial increases in efficiency ofuse of material is obtained. While only a single embodiment of thepresent invention is disclosed herein it will be understood thatvariations andmodifications may be effected without departing from 'thespirit andv scope of the novel concepts disclosed and claimed herein.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A carrier package comprising a plurality of containers or the like,and a resilient, elastic and deformable sheet of plastic materialrectangular in configuration having a major central axis and a minorcentral axis, elongated sockets formed in opposing pairs on oppositesides of said major axis, said elongated sockets being formed of spacedapart semicircles of different radii, a peripheral portion of each pairof semicircles being substantially parallel to the marginal edge of saidsheet of plastic material to form a straight line and having theperipheral portion displaced inwardly of the marginal portion atnon-parallel locations to form a straight line diagonally between saidsemicircles at the inner portions of the sheet of plastic material, andhandle means formed by a pair of slits located adjacent said sockets andon opposite sides of said major central axis to be centrally located ofthe four sockets formed in the plastic material, whereby upon insertionof the containers axially into the sockets, said material is caused tostretch and deform to the shape of the containers for gripping andresiliently engaging the containers to resist container withdrawal.

2. A carrier package comprising a plurality of containers or the like, aresilient, elastic and deformable sheet of plastic material having amajor central axis and a minor central axis, elongated sockets formed inopposing pairs on opposite sides of said major axis, said elongatedsockets being formed of spaced apart semicircles of different radii, theperipheral portion of each pair of semicircle portions beingsubstantially parallel to the marginal edge of said sheet of plasticmaterial to form a straight line and having a peripheral portiondisplaced inwardly of the marginal portion at nonparallel locations toform a straight line diagonally between said semicircles at the innerportion of the sheet of plastic material, and handle means formed by apair of slits p0- sitioned at the intersection of said major and minoraxes to be centrally located of the four sockets formed therein, saidcarrier being assembled to said containers thereby enabling said handlemeans to be positioned upwardly at the intersection of the longitudinaland transverse central axes of the carrier to facilitate the grippingthereof by the user for transporting the containers.

1. A carrier package comprising a plurality of containers or the like,and a resilient, elastic and deformable sheet of plastic materialrectangular in configuration having a major central axis and a minorcentral axis, elongated sockets formed in opposing pairs on oppositesides of said major axis, said elongated sockets being formed of spacedapart semicircles of different radii, a peripheral portion of each pairof semicircles being substantially parallel to the marginal edge of saidsheet of plastic material to form a straight line and having theperipheral portion displaced inwardly of the marginal portion atnon-parallel locations to form a straight line diagonally between saidsemicircles at the inner portions of the sheet of plastic material, andhandle means formed by a pair of slits located adjacent said sockets andon opposite sides of said major central axis to be centrally located ofthe four sockets formed in the plastic material, whereby upon insertionof the containers axially into the sockets, said material is caused tostretch and deform to the shape of the containers for gripping andresiliently engaging the containers to resist container withdrawal.
 2. Acarrier package comprising a plurality of containers or the like, aresilient, elastic and deformable sheet of plastic material having amajor central axis and a minor central axis, elongated sockets formed inopposing pairs on opposite sides of said major axis, said elongatedsockets being formed of spaced apart semicircles of different radii, theperipheral portion of each pair of semicircle portions beingsubstantially parallel to the marginal edge of said sheet of plasticmaterial to form a straight line and having a peripheral portiondisplaced inwardly of the marginal portion at nonparallel locations toform a straight line diagonally between said semicircles at the innerportion of the sheet of plastic material, and handle means formed by apair of slits positioned at the intersection of said major and minoraxes to be centrally located of the four sockets formed therein, saidcarrier being assembled to said containers thereby enabling said handlemeans to be positioned upwardly at the intersection of the longitudinaland transverse central axes of the carrier to facilitate the grippingthereof by the user for transporting the containers.